Class 8 Bankruptcy, Spring, 2009 Trustee as Hypothetical Lien Creditor Randal C. Picker Leffmann Professor of Commercial Law The Law School The University of Chicago 773.702.0864/r-picker@uchicago.edu Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker. All Rights 552 Postpetition effect of security interest (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, property acquired by the estate or by the debtor after the commencement of the case is not subject to any lien resulting from any security agreement entered into by the debtor before the commencement of the case. March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 2 552 (cont.) Postpetition effect of security interest (cont.) (b)(1) Except as provided in sections 363, 506(c), 522, 544, 545, 547, and 548 of this title, if the debtor and an entity entered into a security agreement before the commencement of the case and if the security interest created by such security agreement extends to property of the debtor acquired before the commencement of the case and to proceeds, product, offspring, or profits of such property, then such security interest extends to such proceeds, product, offspring, or profits acquired by the estate after the commencement of the case to the extent provided by such security agreement and by applicable nonbankruptcy law, except to any extent that the court, after notice and a hearing and based on the equities of the case, orders otherwise. March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 3 The Unperfected Secured Creditor Hypo Bank lends debtor $1000 and takes a security interest in equipment Bank fails to file a UCC-1 financing statement for the equipment Equipment is worth $1000 An unsecured creditor is owed $1000 Who has priority? March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 4 9-317(a) (a) [Conflicting security interests and rights of lien creditors.] A security interest or agricultural lien is subordinate to the rights of: March 15, 2016 (1) a person entitled to priority under Section 9-322; and Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 5 9-317(a) (2) except as otherwise provided in subsection (e), a person that becomes a lien creditor before the earlier of the time: • (A) the security interest or agricultural lien is perfected; or • (B) one of the conditions specified in Section 9203(b)(3) is met and a financing statement covering the collateral is filed. March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 6 9-102(a)(52): “Lien Creditor” “Lien creditor” means: (A) a creditor that has acquired a lien on the property involved by attachment, levy, or the like; (B) an assignee for benefit of creditors from the time of assignment; (C) a trustee in bankruptcy from the date of the filing of the petition; or (D) a receiver in equity from the time of appointment. March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 7 9-322(a)(1) Conflicting perfected security interests and agricultural liens rank according to priority in time of filing or perfection March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 8 9-322(a)(1) Priority dates from the earlier of the time a filing covering the collateral is first made or the security interest or agricultural lien is first perfected if there is no period thereafter when there is neither filing nor perfection March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 9 9-322(a)(1) If resolved outside of bankruptcy Depends on what happens next Unsecured creditor could become lien creditor and take priorty over Bank Otherwise Bank would have priority March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 10 What Should We Do In Bankruptcy? 544(a) is the Answer Creates a hypothetical deemed status for the trustee in bankruptcy March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 11 544 Trustee as lien creditor and as successor to certain creditors and purchasers (a) The trustee shall have, as of the commencement of the case, and without regard to any knowledge of the trustee or of any creditor, the rights and powers of, or may avoid any transfer of property of the debtor or any obligation incurred by the debtor that is voidable by-- March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 12 544 (cont.) Trustee as lien creditor and as successor to certain creditors and purchasers (cont.) (a) March 15, 2016 (cont.) (1) a creditor that extends credit to the debtor at the time of the commencement of the case, and that obtains, at such time and with respect to such credit, a judicial lien on all property on which a creditor on a simple contract could have obtained such a judicial lien, whether or not such a creditor exists; Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 13 544 (cont.) Trustee as lien creditor and as successor to certain creditors and purchasers (cont.) (a) March 15, 2016 (cont.) (2) a creditor that extends credit to the debtor at the time of the commencement of the case, and obtains, at such time and with respect to such credit, an execution against the debtor that is returned unsatisfied at such time, whether or not such a creditor exists; or Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 14 544 (cont.) Trustee as lien creditor and as successor to certain creditors and purchasers (cont.) (a) March 15, 2016 (cont.) (3) a bona fide purchaser of real property, other than fixtures, from the debtor, against whom applicable law permits such transfer to be perfected, that obtains the status of a bona fide purchaser and has perfected such transfer at the time of the commencement of the case, whether or not such a purchaser exists. Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 15 550 Liability of transferee of avoided transfer (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, to the extent that a transfer is avoided under section 544, 545, 547, 548, 549, 553(b), or 724(a) of this title, the trustee may recover, for the benefit of the estate, the property transferred, or, if the court so orders, the value of such property, from March 15, 2016 (1) the initial transferee of such transfer or the entity for whose benefit such transfer was made; or (2) any immediate or mediate transferee of such initial transferee. Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 16 550 (cont.) Liability of transferee of avoided transfer (cont.) (b) The trustee may not recover under section (a)(2) of this section from March 15, 2016 (1) a transferee that takes for value, including satisfaction or securing of a present or antecedent debt, in good faith, and without knowledge of the voidability of the transfer avoided; or (2) any immediate or mediate good faith transferee of such transferee. Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 17 550 (cont.) Liability of transferee of avoided transfer (cont.) (c) If a transfer made between 90 days and one year before the filing of the petition— (1) is avoided under section 547(b) of this title; and (2) was made for the benefit of a creditor that at the time of such transfer was an insider; the trustee may not recover under subsection (a) from a transferee that is not an insider. (d) The trustee is entitled to only a single satisfaction under subsection (a) of this section. March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 18 551 Automatic preservation of avoided transfer Any transfer avoided under section 522, 544, 545, 547, 548, 549, or 724(a) of this title, or any lien void under section 506(d) of this title, is preserved for the benefit of the estate but only with respect to property of the estate. March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 19 Later Senior Liens Hypo 2/1: Bank enters into possible financing deal with debtor and files financing statement for equipment and lends $5,000 3/1: Finco lends $10,000 to debtor and take security interest in equipment and files UCC-1 March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 20 Later Senior Liens 3/2: Bank takes security interest in equipment Who has priority? March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 21 Later Senior Liens Answer Under 9-322, first to file wins, so Bank has priority over Finco March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 22 Avoiding A Senior Lien Same Hypo But Add $10,000 in USC Have the debtor file for bankruptcy on 4/1 Assume equipment is worth $5,000 What We Need to Know 3/2 security grant will be avoidable as preference under Section 547 March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 23 Avoiding A Senior Lien What happens when we avoid the senior lien? March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 24 551’s Preservation of the Lien The Language Again Any transfer avoided under section … 544 … is preserved for the benefit of the estate but only with respect to property of the estate. March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 25 Avoiding a Junior Lien Hypo 2/1: Bank lends $10,000 to debtor, secured by equipment and files a UCC-1 3/1: Finco lends $10,000 to debtor and take security interest in equipment and but fails to file UCC-1 4/1: Debtor files for bankruptcy; unsecured creditors of $10,000 and equipment worth $10,000 March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 26 Avoiding a Junior Lien What happens? Is this Kors? March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 27 Kors Core Facts Kors is the avoidable junior lien hypo + a subordination agreement Howard Bank should be senior (filed 7/13/78) but made a mistake in its financing statement and is unperfected SBIC should be junior (filed 7/19/78) but has perfected security interest March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 28 Different Sub Language Payment Subordination “We SBIC agree that we will pay over to you Howard Bank any funds that we receive from the debtor until you Howard Bank has been paid in full.” What would that mean? How does that differ from the actual language? March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 29 Subordination Agreement The Language SBIC agreed to be “subject and subordinate to the effect given to any prior security interests therein required to be given to Howard Bank” What does this mean? Should we treat this as the avoidable senior lien case? March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005-09 Randal C. Picker 30 Fraudulent Transfer Hypo D has $10,000 in USC claims D sells asset to T for $5,000 but asset is actually worth $10,000 D is insolvent at time of transfer Sometime later, D files for bankruptcy with $1,000 in assets March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005 Randal C. Picker 31 Fraudulent Transfer At the time of the filing, D has $10,000 in USC claims $1,000 are claims that arose prior to the sale to T $9,000 arose after the sale What happens? March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005 Randal C. Picker 32 Applicable Non-Bankruptcy Law Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act D’s sale to T will be fraudulent transfer as against creditors in existence at time of sale Those creditors could ignore the transfer and follow the asset into T’s hands Meaning? March 15, 2016 Those creditors could recover the $1,000 that they are owed from T Copyright © 2005 Randal C. Picker 33 In Bankruptcy? 544(a) Irrelevant Deemed status would treat trustee as creditor arising after the transfer Under applicable law, post-transfer creditors can’t complain 544(b) Applies! March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005 Randal C. Picker 34 544(b) Trustee as lien creditor and as successor to certain creditors and purchasers (b)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the trustee may avoid any transfer of an interest of the debtor in property or any obligation incurred by the debtor that is voidable under applicable law by a creditor holding an unsecured claim that is allowable under section 502 of this title or that is not allowable only under section 502(e) of this title. March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005 Randal C. Picker 35 544(b) (cont.) Trustee as lien creditor and as successor to certain creditors and purchasers (cont.) (b)(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a transfer of a charitable contribution (as that term is defined in section 548(d)(3)) that is not covered under section 548(a)(1)(B), by reason of section 548(a)(2). Any claim by any person to recover a transferred contribution described in the preceding sentence under Federal or State law in a Federal or State court shall be preempted by the commencement of the case. March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005 Randal C. Picker 36 What Happens? Two Issues to Focus On Extent of the Avoidance How much can be recovered from T? Beneficiaries March 15, 2016 Who benefits from the avoidance? Copyright © 2005 Randal C. Picker 37 544(b) Legislative History Senate Report 95-589 “Subsection (b) … gives the trustee the rights of actual unsecured creditors under applicable law to avoid transfers. It follows Moore v. Bay …” March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005 Randal C. Picker 38 Possible Results 1. Trustee As Agent for Pre-Transfer Creditors Trustee limited to extent of pre-transfer claims and those creditors are the beneficiary 2. Ditch Beneficiaries Limit Trustee can avoid to extent of pre-transfer claims and all creditors benefit March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005 Randal C. Picker 39 Possible Results 3. Ditch Extent Limit and Beneficiaries Limit March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005 Randal C. Picker 40 Trustee As Agent for PreTransfer Creditors Analysis Creditors owed $1,000 and could recover that from T Trustee does so under 544(b) and gives the money to these creditors Post-transfer creditors get the debtor’s $1,000 in assets T ends up $4,000 to the good March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005 Randal C. Picker 41 Trustee As Agent for PreTransfer Creditors Not understood to be the result of Moore v Bay March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005 Randal C. Picker 42 Ditch Beneficiaries Limit Analysis Creditors owed $1,000 and could recover that from T Trustee does so under 544(b) and shares that money will all creditors That gives $2,000 in assets against $10,000 in claims March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005 Randal C. Picker 43 Ditch Beneficiaries Limit Pre-transfer creditors get $200 on their $1,000 Post-transfer creditors get $1800 on their $9,000 in claims T ends up $4,000 to the good Not understood to be the result of Moore v Bay March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005 Randal C. Picker 44 Ditch Both Limits Analysis Creditors owed $1,000 and could recover that from T Trustee avoids the transfer under Section 544(b) and gets back ??? March 15, 2016 Fraudulent transfer law typically gives good faith transferee lien on asset to extent of value given Copyright © 2005 Randal C. Picker 45 Ditch Both Limits Think of trustee as recovering excess value from T: $5,000 That gives $6,000 in assets against $10,000 in claims and all paid 60 cents on the dollar Pre-transfer creditors get $600, posttransfer creditors get $5400 This is understood to be the result of Moore v Bay March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005 Randal C. Picker 46 Ozark Three Causes of Action by the Trustee The alter ego action Action to recover unpaid debt (Sec. 541) A preference action (Sec. 547) What is the basis for allowing the trustee to bring the alter ego action? 541? March 15, 2016 544? Copyright © 2005 Randal C. Picker 47 544 Trustee as lien creditor and as successor to certain creditors and purchasers (a) The trustee shall have, as of the commencement of the case, and without regard to any knowledge of the trustee or of any creditor, the rights and powers of, or may avoid any transfer of property of the debtor or any obligation incurred by the debtor that is voidable by-- March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005 Randal C. Picker 48 544 (cont.) Trustee as lien creditor and as successor to certain creditors and purchasers (cont.) (a) March 15, 2016 (cont.) (1) a creditor that extends credit to the debtor at the time of the commencement of the case, and that obtains, at such time and with respect to such credit, a judicial lien on all property on which a creditor on a simple contract could have obtained such a judicial lien, whether or not such a creditor exists; Copyright © 2005 Randal C. Picker 49 And Contrast This with Proposed 544(c) Organized around “The trustee may enforce any cause of action that a creditor …” March 15, 2016 Copyright © 2005 Randal C. Picker 50